Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSTEMIDuring a Heart AttackSigns and SymptomsCausesRisk FactorsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
STEMI
During a Heart Attack
Signs and Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Treatment
Prevention
All heart attacks are serious, but a massive heart attack can be particularly deadly. A massive heart attack occurs when one of your arteries is blocked, disrupting oxygen flow to the heart. The most serious type of heart attack is anST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).
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Call 911: Heart Attack Warning SignsWarning signs of aheart attackinclude:Chest pain that may be consistent or that may come and goNausea/vomitingPain in the back, arms, jaw, neck, or stomachShortness of breathCall911immediately if you or someone you are with has the warning signs of a heart attack. Do not drive yourself or take someone you suspect of having aheart attackto the hospital.
Call 911: Heart Attack Warning Signs
Warning signs of aheart attackinclude:Chest pain that may be consistent or that may come and goNausea/vomitingPain in the back, arms, jaw, neck, or stomachShortness of breathCall911immediately if you or someone you are with has the warning signs of a heart attack. Do not drive yourself or take someone you suspect of having aheart attackto the hospital.
Warning signs of aheart attackinclude:
Call911immediately if you or someone you are with has the warning signs of a heart attack. Do not drive yourself or take someone you suspect of having aheart attackto the hospital.
The Most Serious Type of Massive Heart Attack: STEMI
The primary difference betweenSTEMIsand other types ofheart attacksis the amount of blockage. Arterial blockage of 80% or 90% can lead to a heart attack. However, with STEMIs,one of the major arteries leading to the heart is 100% blocked.When left untreated, a STEMI can cause permanent heart damage or death.
Another type of heart attack is anon-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction(NSTEMI). Like other heart attacks, it is severe and needs immediate attention. However, NSTEMIs allow some blood flow to the heart.
What Happens During a Massive Heart Attack?
Here’s what happens during a STEMI:
Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms
No matter the type ofheart attack, the symptoms tend to be similar and include:
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack inwomenmay vary a little compared to men. Women may feel back and jaw pain, nausea and vomiting, and shortness of breath more often. It’s also more common for women to feel fatigued in the days preceding the heart attack.
What Causes Massive Heart Attacks?
As with other types of heart attacks, the leadingcauseof massive heart attacks is coronary artery disease, as follows:
What Increases the Risk?
Coronary artery disease, which is a common cause of massive heart attacks, has several risk factors, including:
How Is a Massive Heart Attack Treated?
To help confirm that someone is having a heart attack, the medical team will do several tests. These may include:
When someone has a heart attack, their medical team will use treatments to restore blood flow to the damaged part of the heart. Treatments to help achieve this include:
These are some of the potential treatment approaches. A healthcare provider may recommend other procedures to treat a heart attack.
Can You Prevent a Massive Heart Attack?
The best way to prevent a massive heart attack or any heart attack is with lifestyle changes. Here are some of the ways you can help lower your risk for heart disease and heart attacks:
Summary
“STEMI” is the acronym for “ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction,” which is a massive heart attack. It occurs when an artery carrying oxygen-rich blood to the heart is completely blocked, causing damage or death to part of the heart muscle. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, pain in the back or arms, shortness of breath, and nausea. Seek immediate medical help if you’re with someone experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack of any type.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Akbar H, Foth C, Kahloon RA, et al.Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532281/University of Kansas Health System.STEMI heart attack.MedlinePlus.Acute coronary syndrome.American Heart Association.Heart attack symptoms in women.American Heart Association.Coronary artery dissection: not just a heart attack.Teragawa H, Oshita C, Ueda T.Coronary spasm: it’s common, but it’s still unsolved.World J Cardiol. 2018;10(11):201-209. doi:10.4330/wjc.v10.i11.201.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Heart attack causes and risk factors.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Heart Association.Lifestyle changes to prevent a heart attack.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Akbar H, Foth C, Kahloon RA, et al.Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532281/University of Kansas Health System.STEMI heart attack.MedlinePlus.Acute coronary syndrome.American Heart Association.Heart attack symptoms in women.American Heart Association.Coronary artery dissection: not just a heart attack.Teragawa H, Oshita C, Ueda T.Coronary spasm: it’s common, but it’s still unsolved.World J Cardiol. 2018;10(11):201-209. doi:10.4330/wjc.v10.i11.201.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Heart attack causes and risk factors.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Heart Association.Lifestyle changes to prevent a heart attack.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.Akbar H, Foth C, Kahloon RA, et al.Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532281/University of Kansas Health System.STEMI heart attack.MedlinePlus.Acute coronary syndrome.American Heart Association.Heart attack symptoms in women.American Heart Association.Coronary artery dissection: not just a heart attack.Teragawa H, Oshita C, Ueda T.Coronary spasm: it’s common, but it’s still unsolved.World J Cardiol. 2018;10(11):201-209. doi:10.4330/wjc.v10.i11.201.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Heart attack causes and risk factors.American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.American Heart Association.Lifestyle changes to prevent a heart attack.
American Heart Association.Warning signs of a heart attack.
Akbar H, Foth C, Kahloon RA, et al.Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. [Updated 2023 Jul 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532281/
University of Kansas Health System.STEMI heart attack.
MedlinePlus.Acute coronary syndrome.
American Heart Association.Heart attack symptoms in women.
American Heart Association.Coronary artery dissection: not just a heart attack.
Teragawa H, Oshita C, Ueda T.Coronary spasm: it’s common, but it’s still unsolved.World J Cardiol. 2018;10(11):201-209. doi:10.4330/wjc.v10.i11.201.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.Heart attack causes and risk factors.
American Heart Association.Heart attack treatment.
American Heart Association.Lifestyle changes to prevent a heart attack.
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